Brooks administration officials have announced a reorganization of the staff that has to deal with one of the county's biggest challenges: the budget.

The administration is combining the finance and budget offices. And Scott Adair has been named chief financial officer.

Adair replaces Steve Gleason - CFO since 2004 - who is resigning to pursue other opportunities, according to a county press release. Gleason is the second high-level finance officer to leave the county this year; former budget director Bill Carpenter resigned in June.

The changes come at a crucial time: the county is looking at a minimum $29 million budget gap for 2009. Among the reasons given for the reorganization: that it will "increase efficiencies in the formulation and management of the county budget."

The financial area of the administration has been experiencing a game of musical chairs. Adair - who had been the county's controller from 2004 to 2007 - was hired in June to replace Carpenter as budget director.

Replacing Adair as budget director will be Susan L. Walsh, currently the county's deputy director of human resources.